Highlights and News

CHARLESTON — It’s been almost 100 years since a Republican succeeded another Republican as speaker of the House of Delegates, but that happened Wednesday as the House of Delegates elevated Delegate Roger Hanshaw to the podium.

An Olympic gold medalist, a retired master sergeant of the U.S. Air Force, a musician, a humanitarian and a legacy who has carried on the Mountaineer spirit as the 21st family member to attend West Virginia University are among those who will receive WVU’s highest student honor, the Order of Augusta.

Three outstanding young women at West Virginia University have been named finalists for the Rhodes Scholarship, one of the oldest and most celebrated international awards in the world. This may be the first time that WVU has advanced this many finalists for this award.

Three students at West Virginia University — two of them natives of the area — were recently named as finalists for the Rhodes Scholarship.

Five West Virginia University students who have excelled in the classroom and in leadership and service activities throughout their college years will be competing with other deserving students across the country for the highly competitive Rhodes and British Marshall Scholarships.

Emma Harrison found her passion for expanding educational opportunities for imprisoned people in a West Virginia University class she shared with incarcerated men. That passion has led to her selection as a finalist for the prestigious Truman Scholarship, the premier award for those who are pursuing careers in public service.

West Virginia University students have a long tradition of winning prestigious, nationally-competitive scholarships and fellowships. In 1904, a WVU student, Charles F. T. Brooke, was among the first group of Rhodes Scholars. Since then, WVU students have won 25 Rhodes Scholarships, 24 Truman Scholarships, 65 Fulbright Scholarships, 45 Goldwater Scholarships, and 26 Boren Scholarships.

Assistant U.S. Attorney and former Mountaineer mascot Andrew Cogar is living proof of the impact Mountaineers can make when they set their minds to it.

Emily is a professional speaker who has given talks for clients such as Google, Pixar, MIT, Texas Instruments, the Space Foundation, and many more. She's given three TEDx talks garnering over 700,000 views, and has shared her message of science and space advocacy in dozens of classrooms and universities around the world.